Lehigh Valley Scene: Chefs whip up specialties for healthy babies

The March of Dimes 23rd Annual Signature Chefs Auction achieved new benchmarks for fundraising and attendance on Nov. 5 despite a week's delay caused by Hurricane Sandy. The event, hosted for the first time at the Mack Customer Center and staffed by volunteers from Kohl's, Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Concannon Miller and area colleges, attracted 300 guests and raised $83,000 for the nonprofit group that strives to help all babies to be born healthy. Beverly Pesaresi and Tiffany Till were co-chairwoman of the benefit. Mack, the bulldog mascot of Mack Trucks, made an appearance and was a favorite subject of souvenir photos.

Chefs from nearly two dozen area restaurants, bakeries and caterers offered up a tantalizing assortment of savory and sweet dishes as they placed bids on silent auction items. Participants includes Savory Grille, Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar, Weaversville Inn, Grumpy's Bar-B-Que Roadhouse, Sangria and Simply Smooth Events. Looper's Grille and Bar poured beer tastings and a trio of signature martinis. Mystery judges Matt Broderick from WFMZ Channel 69; Laura Putt, editor of Lehigh Valley Family magazine, and Billy Kounoupis, owner of Billy's Downtown Diner, came in with a tie for the title of Top Chef. They chose Javan Small of The Farmhouse and Andy Palco of K. Heeps Inc. People's Choice awards, selected by guest ballots, went to Mark Nilsen of American Cafe and second-time winner Melissa Miller of Granny Schmidt's Bake Shop.

Josh Gears from 100.7 WLEV was emcee. Opening the program was Gerald Nau, CEO of Lafayette Ambassador Bank, a presenting sponsor, along with Capital Blue Cross. Nurse of the Year awards were presented to Melanie Martin and Heather Maeding, ob-gyn and NICU nurses, respectively, at St. Luke's University Health Network. Contenders for this honor are nominated by the public and chosen by a committee of doctors and health care professionals.

A spirited live auction featuring gourmet meals and vacation packages finished the evening.

Nearly 100 people were at the Cosmopolitan's ballroom on Nov. 8 to applaud Bob Lovett, the 2012 Communities in Schools honoree, for commitment to education. The local branch of the national nonprofit organization, which offers programs that provide 2,500 Lehigh and Northampton county students with the support needed to succeed in school and graduate, recognized the retired vice president of Air Products for not only his efforts on the CIS Board of Directors, but those of Da Vinci Science Center and Baum School of Art.

Following a relaxed reception with wine and an array of Mediterranean dishes and hand-carved turkey sandwiches, CIS Board Vice President Dennis Murphy welcomed guests. CIS Executive Director Tim Mulligan then took the podium, which was flanked by a pair of school desks. In a moving address, he said the empty desks represented the two students that drop out of area schools each day — a number that CIS wants to reduce to zero.

Good-humored toasts to Lovett were offered by Troy Thrash, Da Vinci Science Center executive director and CEO, and Rudy Ackerman, Baum School of Art director of collections and exhibitions. In addition to the CIS award, Lovett was presented with citations from the state Senate and House of Representatives. His wife, Sandy, received a floral arrangement.